SC State Bulldogs Crush NCCU, Storm Into MEAC Championship Showdown!

Norfolk, Va. – The South Carolina State Bulldogs put on a commanding performance in the MEAC Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals, cruising past No. 6 seed North Carolina Central with an 88-67 victory at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

The second-seeded Bulldogs set the tone early, shooting an impressive 61.1% from the field in the first half to build a dominant 54-25 lead at the break. Senior Omar Croskey led the charge with a season-high 30 points, going 11-of-14 from the field, including an impressive 5-of-7 from three-point range. He also contributed five rebounds, showcasing his all-around play for head coach Erik Martin’s squad.

Contributions came from all over the roster, with Davion Everett making a strong impact off the bench, scoring 16 points, while Colin McKenzie added 14 points to help seal the victory.

With this win, SC State improves to 20-12, marking their first 20-win season since 2002-03. The Bulldogs now set their sights on the MEAC Tournament final, where they will battle No. 1 seed Norfolk State for the championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. The highly anticipated matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

SC State will be vying for its first MEAC Tournament title since 2003, when head coach Cy Alexander led the Bulldogs to a 72-67 victory over Hampton. Their last taste of championship success came in 2004 when they shared the MEAC regular-season title with Coppin State.

Meanwhile, their upcoming opponent, Norfolk State, last won the tournament in 2023, securing back-to-back titles after defeating Coppin State 72-57. The Spartans reached the 2024 final but fell to Howard in a heartbreaker, 65-64. This season, SC State and Norfolk State split their regular-season meetings, each winning on their home court, setting the stage for an exciting championship showdown.

The Bulldogs wasted no time asserting their dominance in the semifinals, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes. A scoring surge, fueled by Croskey’s sharpshooting, propelled SC State to a staggering 25-4 advantage with 12:24 remaining in the first half. By halftime, the Bulldogs had built an insurmountable 29-point lead.

North Carolina Central attempted to claw back into the game with a 16-5 run to start the second half, narrowing the deficit to 18 points. Perry Smith Jr. led the Eagles with 20 points and nine rebounds, while King added 18 points and Keishon Porter chipped in 11. Despite their efforts, NCCU was unable to overcome SC State’s early dominance, as the Bulldogs maintained control and sealed their place in the championship game.

Now, all eyes turn to Saturday’s final, where SC State will look to cap off their remarkable season by claiming their first MEAC Tournament championship in over two decades. A win would cement their legacy and earn them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a feat they haven’t accomplished since their last title run.